22nd RTL-Spendenmarathon Telethon Raises €9.1 Million

Last week, RTL again devoted 30 consecutive hours of its programming to a good cause. The 22nd RTL-Spendenmarathon telethon hosted by Wolfram Kons on Thursday and Friday raised a total of €9,188,527 for children in need in Germany and around the world. Among other things, the money will be used to build three new RTL children's homes.

During the 22nd RTL-Spendenmarathon telethon hosted by Wolfram Kons last week, a total of €9,188,527 was donated for children in need in Germany and around the world. “We plan to use this impressive total donation to offer lasting support to children in need, especially in Germany,” says Anke Schäferkordt, CEO of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and Chairwoman of “Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e.V.” (RTL Foundation – We Help Children). “I'm particularly happy that the money raised will enable us to open no fewer than three new RTL children's homes in Germany next year.”

This brings the overall total raised since RTL Television launched its charity efforts in 1996 to more than €161 million. “For me, the moment when the final total is announced is one of the sweetest moments in the year,” says Wolfram Kons, who – more than 30 hours after the start of the 22nd RTL-Spendenmarathon - announced the final tally live on RTL Television's night-time news broadcast “RTL-Nachtjournal.” “Now we know for certain that the funds raised will enable us to go ahead with all of this year’s projects.”

Joey Kelly And 10,000 Dancers - Two World Records!

This year, two new world records were set during the RTL-Spendenmarathon. The General German Dance Teachers' Association (ADTV) was awarded a certificate for the “largest mass samba in several places.” More than 10,000 dancers simultaneously danced disco-samba on World Dance Day. Meanwhile, the endurance athlete Joey Kelly drove 24 hours non-stop in a Kettcar and, together with 20 company teams, set the world record for the “longest distance covered in a 24-hour Kettcar race,” covering 7,305.93 kilometers in 26,567 laps, and thus shattering the previous record of 4,000 kilometers. This is the twelfth time Joey Kelly has set a world record during the RTL-Spendenmarathon.